Saint Cyril, Monk and Saint Methodius, Bishop (Memorial)

Cyril and Methodius, were brothers who came from Thessalonica. After their education, the Eastern Emperor Michael III (842-856) sent them as Christian missionaries into the kingdom of Grand-Moravia and with their great effort and in spite of tremendous difficulties they converted the Slavonic nations. In 867, they went Rome, were met by Pope Hadrian II (867-872) and the whole papal court, giving report of their labours. Cyril died on 14 February 869, in Rome at only forty-two years old, and was buried in St. Peter's. Methodius returned to Moravia and laboured as a missionary among the Hungarians, Bulgarians, Dalmatians, and the inhabitants of Carinthia. Methodius was consecrated bishop and sent to Pannonia. After Methodius's return to Moravia, he converted the duke of Bohemia and his wife, spread the light of faith in Bohemia and Poland. Methodius died on 6 April 885, in Velehrad, Czech Republic, after working tirelessly on spreading the Gospel.

In 1980, Pope John Paul II declared them co-patron saints of Europe, together with Benedict of Nursia. Sts Cyril and Methodius' feast day is currently celebrated on 14 February in the Roman Catholic Church (to coincide with the date of St Cyril's death)

O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius, grant that our hearts may grasp the words of your teaching, and perfect us as a people of one accord in true faith and right confession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Friday, 14 February, 2014
Saint Cyril, Monk and Saint Methodius, Bishop (Memorial)

Reading

1 Kings 11: 29 - 32, 12: 19
29	And at that time, when Jerobo'am went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahi'jah the Shi'lonite found him on the road. Now Ahi'jah had clad himself with a new garment; and the two of them were alone in the open country.
30	Then Ahi'jah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces.
31	And he said to Jerobo'am, "Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, `Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and will give you ten tribes
32	(but he shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Psalm

Psalms 81: 10 - 15
10	I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11	"But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would have none of me.
12	So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.
13	O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
14	I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes.
15	Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last for ever.

Gospel

Mark 7: 31 - 37
31	Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decap'olis.
32	And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him.
33	And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue;
34	and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Eph'phatha," that is, "Be opened."
35	And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
36	And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.
37	And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."